The effects of global alliances on international flight frequencies: Some evidence from Italy

• Routes presenting a higher share (or number) of carriers in global alliances tend to have a larger number of flights.
• Codesharing agreements have positive impact on flight frequencies of full-service carriers.
• The extensive growth of global alliances in Europe is welfare-improving.

We collect half-yearly data on nonstop flight frequencies offered by carriers on routes originating from Italian regions to European countries in the period 1998–2010. We find that, as the share of flights belonging to global alliances increases, the number of flights offered by airlines simultaneously expands, especially in the case of full-service carriers. Moreover, there is also evidence that the number of global alliances has a positive impact on flight supply.